What did Philip II of Spain do

Felipe II was King of Spain from 1556 to 1598Throughout this period, the monarch carried out a series of reforms of a different nature that affected the Hispanic country forever. For the defenders of the monarch, he was someone with a huge variety of virtues, someone very intelligent, for his detractors, he had more defects than virtues. Due to the black and pink legends that he has to his name, in this lesson from a TEACHER we are going to talk about what did Felipe II of Spain do to know all the reforms that the "prudent" king carried out.

Index

1. Art and science
2. Internal politics of Felipe II
3. Foreign policy

One of the main contributions made by Felipe II of Spain was in the field of art and science. And is that the King was patron of different artists and scientistsFor this reason, his period is marked by a great scientific advance in the Spanish Crown and by an unusual artistic period.

The government of the Prudent King coincides with the

The most prominent author of this period is Miguel de Cervantes, that during the reign of Felipe II began to write the first works of him. But writers were not the only artists who received recognition at this time, we can highlight painters like El Greco and great architects who created buildings like El Escorial.

Regarding science, Felipe II served as a patron in scientific projects, especially focused on mathematics, geography and naval engineering. On the latter, Felipe II convened the first modern debate on naval engineering, since his objective was that the Spanish naval navy will surpass that of other countries such as England.

He also founded the first academy of mathematics in Europe, giving it a place next to the Royal Palace, and hiring scholars from all over Europe to study subjects of different kinds.

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The internal policy of Felipe II is characterized by changes that would continue for centuries in the Crown Spanish, and for facing numerous internal problems, both from his own family and from problems religious.

One of the most important domestic policy measures was that of succession. The king's first son, Prince Charles, was someone with a great mental imbalance, even trying to conspire against his father with the help of the Flemish rebels. After a series of attacks the prince was arrested and imprisoned, dying a short time later. It was not until his fourth marriage that Felipe II had a male descendant who could take the crown, Felipe III.

The time of Felipe II was also marked by different rebellions and revolts. One of them was Alpujarras rebellion, where the Moorish population took up arms against the king due to a law that restricted their freedoms. Felipe II deported the Moors to different parts of the kingdom, although the Moors had reduced their numbers considerably. But the Moors were not the only ones who rose up against the king, after the arrest of the former secretary of the king, Antonio Pérez, the Aragonese began revolts against Felipe II, the king resolved the dispute by means of the force.

But most important of the wise king's domestic policies were his administrative reforms, some of which are as follows.

• He set Madrid as the seat of the court, and therefore the first permanent capital of the Spanish Crown.
• He reformed the road network, placing inns in them and trying to make them safer.
• He made military innovations, improving the thirds, one of the best military units in history. Some of these improvements were the appearance of specialized military units in firearms, and the new forms of siege.
• Also maritime combat was improved, highlighting the use of a large number of galleons.
• Improved the communications system between the different political managers, being the fastest messengers of the time.
• A trade monopoly with the Indies, thanks to which Spain became the richest country in the world.

The great empire that Philip II controlled made foreign policy was very important, especially the one referring to the wars that he had to face against other countries that were looking for Spanish territories, or to reduce the economic influence that the Spanish Empire had managed to have.

The most important battles were:

• The Italian wars against France: The war against France was caused especially by their support for the Flemish rebels. These wars ended with the French surrender, and with the confirmation of Spain as the world's leading power.
• Conflict with the Netherlands: The inhabitants of Holland saw the Spanish Empire as something foreign, and that caused a series of revolts for freedom that would lead to the beginning of the Eighty Years War. This conflict began in the time of Felipe II, but lasted for several generations of Spanish monarchs.
• The conflict with England: Philip II fought against England for different reasons, for religious reasons, for corsairs Englishmen attacking Spanish ships, and for the help that the English gave to the rebels flamingos. The war was maritime, the only field in which the English could compete against the Spanish. It was in this war that Spain suffered the horrible defeat of the Invincible Armada, which for many was the beginning of the decline of the Spanish Empire.
• The Turks: The Ottoman Empire was another of Philip II's opponents. The Turks were the only power in the world that could face the Spanish. This was a religious conflict, inherited from the father of Felipe II.

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